By DAVID B. CORBIN Specially
Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

Last year, the Scotch
Plains-Fanwood High School Boys Soccer Team fell
one game shy of becoming the New Jersey State Group 3
Champions when Ocean Township High School surged in the
final five minutes to pull out a 2-0 victory.

Presently, the Raiders are the
defending Section 2, Group 3 State Champions and they
definitely plan to repeat this season. A successful
defense would give the Raiders their ninth title in 13
years.

Although their accomplishments
last year were lofty, their aims are, without a doubt,
higher this season. The Raiders have won five State Group
3 Championships out of eight appearances and plan to add
another to their trophy case.

The Raiders graduated six
seniors last year; Dan Biegelson, Chris Cardinal, Mark
Lowyns, Ross McIntyre, Robert Niedzwiecki and Javier
Sanchez. Eighteen lettermen will be returning including
13 seniors. Seniors Adam Koster, Jeff Gillie and Mike
Milberger have assumed the responsibility of being the
team captains. Junior Todd Moser will shift to center
midfielder to fill the position vacated by Lowyns.

"Dont sell our boys
short," stated Raider Boys Soccer Head Coach
Tom Breznitsky. "This may be our best team ever.
Three of our boys participated in the Olympic
Developmental Program (ODP) this summer, and one, our
goalkeeper Gillie, qualified for the United States
Regional team."

Moser and sophomore Eugene
Ferrara were the other two boys who were selected.

The ODP consists of 22 boys per
age group who were selected from club teams to represent
their respective state; then, all the states chose
several players to represent the United States Regional
team.

"Chris Cardinal is
returning as our highest goal scorer; however, we have
perhaps the most balanced team ever. Each boy is capable
of scoring," said Coach Breznitsky. "There will
not be a player starting who doesnt have
experience."

"This is the most
experienced team we have ever had. We have seven players
over six one (6 feet, one inch). We have good
speed," Coach Breznitsky declared. "Of course,
we need to stay healthy and be lucky."

Raider Assistant Coach Joe
Mortarulo stated, "This team has the talent to be
the best; maybe the best ever."

Mortarulo was the captain of
the undefeated 1987 team which became the first Scotch
Plains-Fanwood High School soccer team to win the Group 3
State Championship. The 1992 team was also undefeated and
ended up as the third-ranked high school team in the
nation. Mortarulo is in his third year as Assistant Coach
and is still an active player himself with major league
soccer potential.

On Saturday, September 13, the
Raiders will have a major challenge when they travel to
Wall High School and play highly regarded Christian
Brothers Academy at 4 p.m. The Raiders have also been
invited to play Archbishop Spalding High School of
Maryland at Loyola College in Baltimore on Saturday,
September 27.